LIST: Best Films of 2013 (The Mainstream List)

While Blood Brothers is dedicated to bringing you the best of cult cinema around the world, we also know that most of you are movie fanatics and love all kinds of film. In an effort to showcase the best of film, we brought on board a special guest to come up with our list of "Best Films of 2013." Andrew Kightlinger an independent writer/director whose first feature film "Dust of War" (featuring legendary cult actors Tony Todd and Doug Jones) is making its rounds on the festival circuit as we speak. He is a dedicated film fan who not only loves cult films, but great films in general. You can check out his IMDB page right HERE. Nonetheless, here is his list for ten best films of 2013 with some bonus features at the bottom. Enjoy!

1. The Great Beauty (La Grande Bellezza) --- A sumptuous exploration of modern society told with both subtlety and lavish style, and featuring the best male performance of 2013 by Toni Servillo. A stunning masterpiece. 

2. Blue is the Warmest Color --- A 3-hour love epic that lives and breathes its characters. It is quite possible the best coming-of-age movie ever made. 

3. 12 Years a Slave --- A lyrical cinematic achievement about the resilience of the human spirit against all odds. This is an important film made by a filmmaker with a very clear point-of-view. 

4. Hunger Games: Catching Fire --- Joins the rare list of sequels that eclipsed their predecessors. This is a true blue Hollywood blockbuster on every level. It’s smart, sassy, and simply awesome. 

5. Gravity --- I saw this three times in theaters. A stunning cinematic experience told with bold brevity. 

6. The Hunt --- A harrowing experience told with unpretentious honesty. 

7. Prince Avalanche --- an unexpected treat like grows with every viewing. Poetic and loose in its narrative approach. 

8. Blue Jasmine – Cate Blanchett delivers a career-best performance that deserves the Oscar. It is also one of Woody’s very best films. A melancholic comedy of the best kind. 

9. The Last Stand --- Yes, Arnold is back. This is the BEST time I’ve had a theater this year. I cheered and laughed through the whole thing. Don’t judge. 

10. Inside Llewyn Davis --- I’m a hit-or-miss fan of the Coen, but this is one of their very best. A fascinating, depressing character study. 

ALMOST MADE THE LIST: Philomena, Before Midnight, Captain Phillips, The Last Stand, Short Term 12, Nebraska, Wolf of Wall Street, Pacific Rim, The Place Beyond the Pines, The East 

PLEASANT SURPRISES: Ender’s Game, Don Jon, You’re Next, World War Z, Riddick, August: Osage County 

NOT GREAT, BUT STILL GOOD: Her, American Hustle, Prisoners, Frances Ha, The World’s End, The Conjuring, Dallas Buyers Club 

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS: All is Lost, Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Out of the Furnace, Elysium, The Great Gatsby, Saving Mr. Banks. 

WORST OF THE YEAR: Man of Steel, Paranoia, Jack the Giant Slayer, Gangster Squad, The Lone Ranger, Now You See Me, Only God Forgives, The Counselor, A Good Day to Die Hard

Written By Andrew Kightlinger